The Grumpy Dump Truck

In Class:
This week in class we read The Grumpy Dump Truck! (My APPLE class read My Truck is Stuck, we will be reading the Grumpy Dump Truck in a few weeks)


This book can be kind of hard to find, but some libraries have it. Walmart also has it. We read it to find out why the dump truck was so grumpy. We talked about things that make us grumpy, and what we do to feel better.

At Home:
Print off a copy of the dump truck. Color it in and make it your own! Is it grumpy or happy?? Print and cut out the target word pictures. Glue the pictures inside (or around) the dump truck. Say each word 5 times, and then say a sentence about each word, before gluing it on. Once they are all in the dump truck, make up a story about all the items in your dump truck!

Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea!

In Class:
This week we read Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea!


We played in the "ocean" to see what we could find in the deep blue sea!




At Home:
Make an ocean of your own! Water, blue food coloring, and a little soap if you want some bubbles. Have your child help you find things to put in the sea. As you play, help them with their language skills. If they are at the labeling stage, have them label items they pull up. Sentences stage, have them say a sentence such as "I found a ____ in the sea!" To make this an articulation activity, have your child find things in the house that start with their speech sounds. Put them in the ocean and when you pull them up have them say each word 5 times. To make it a sentence level artic activity, add a carrier phrase like "I found a ____ swimming in the sea!"

The Pout Pout Fish

In Class:
This week in class we read The Pout Pout Fish!


We practiced two sounds this week- initial P and final SH. This book is great for choral reading so the kids helped me read it and we got lots of practice with our sounds!

We played Let's Go Fishing during centers to get more individual speech time. It was a huge hit, and we've got some great fishermen in our classes!

Home Activity:
Print off the following page on cardstock if possible. You have a few options here! Do one, or all of them!

1. Print 2 copies, and cut out the fish and play matching or Go Fish.
2. Print 1 copy, cut out, and hide the fish around the room, Take turns finding the fish and practicing the word as you find them.
3. Print 1 copy, cut out, and attach a paper clip to the front of each fish. Use a magnet at the end of a pole as a fishing rod and once you catch a fish, practice the word!!

The Little Squeegy Bug

In Class:
This week in class we read The Little Squeegy Bug!


We practiced the /g/ sound like in the word buG. We talked about what kind of bug the squeegy bug is (a firefly, or lightning bug) and if the kids had ever seen a real one before.

In our APPLE class, Miss Marcia brought us the supplies to make squeegy bug snacks. They were delicious!!!

Home Activity:
See what kind of bugs you can find around your house. Use your good speech sounds to call them by their names (ex. lady bug, beetle, fly, etc.). If you are feeling really adventurous, you can give the bugs names! I like to name the first bug I find with an A name, the second a B name, third a C name and so on. This helps us practice lots of speech sounds, too :)

Albert's Impossible Toothache

In Class:
This week in class we are reading Albert's Impossible Toothache!

We talked about the initial /t/ sound and practiced lots of words with this sound.

We talked about toothaches and other aches- tummy aches, head aches, toe aches, etc. If your child says someone bit their toe, its because of this silly book :)

Home Activity:
Print off the following pages. Cut out the words and help your child decide the things that are "good" for our teeth (edible) or "bad" for our teeth (not edible). Place them accordingly on the paper under the good or bad section. As you place each word, practice it 5 times for lots of good initial /t/ word practice!

That's Good, That's Bad!

In Class:
This week in class we read That's Good, That's Bad!


We practiced the initial z sound and talked about what has happened when we have gone to the zoo!

In Apple class, Miss Marcia brought the cutest snacks. We made lions to eat!

Home Activity:

Find which words have the "good" or "bad" /s/ sound. In each box, one word is an s blend word, and the other is not. You can have your child circle the "good" s sound word, and then practice saying each word 10 times. Also, do this multiple times throughout the next week to get maximum practice! Use the words to make stories as well and make sure your kiddos use all their good snake sounds.

Does my child need therapy?

So many parents come to me telling me what their child can or can't say, what sounds they can or can't produce, and ask "does my child need speech therapy?" In an effort to save me some time, and to make sure I answer questions comprehensively, I have created a portion of my blog dedicated to answering these questions.

Please see my Developmental Milestones page to see what a child should be doing at each age in the areas of speech and language. This should be used a guideline only and not a checklist.

You can also see my Does My Child Need Speech Therapy? page to find out how and where you can receive a screener or speech and language evaluation to determine if your child needs therapy.

Good luck in your endeavors and please let me know if you have any additional questions!